Presenter Bio

Christina Law has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years providing services to families, individuals, and couples. An extensive portion of her service has been working with children and families in the foster care system. She has experience providing individual, family, and couples counseling to heterosexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender clients. She has worked with individuals in therapeutic residential settings and with diverse populations.

Christina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Board Certified Sex Therapist, a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Entrepreneur, and Trainer on LGBTQ issues in therapy and foster care. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2009. Christina received Board Certification in Sex Therapy through the Sex Therapy Training Institute out of Miami, Florida in 2012. She currently runs a private practice and continues to work in Child Welfare.

Workshop Description

This training will guide clinicians through the world of working with LGBTQI clients, with a special focus on understanding and working with gender identity issues common to this population. Whether you are a new helping professional or an experienced practitioner, this workshop will help you to become more culturally competent with this rapidly evolving population.

Participants in this course will learn the fundamentals, pitfalls, and importance of concepts such as the importance of language and the words we use and those that are obsolete and out dated. We will discuss the complexities of one’s sexual orientation and gender expression. We will also explore what to expect when having conversations with parents of transgender children and assisting and guiding transgender clients through legal/medical l issues. Participants will leave this workshop with the knowledge, skills and confidence to work more effectively with LGBTQI clients.

Workshop Objectives

1. Increased knowledge of new and evolving terminology

2. Increased awareness of Standards of Care for Transgender individuals using the WPATH Standards of Care

3. Increased knowledge of Informed Consent

4. Improve professional practice by building empathy, awareness, knowledge, and skills

5. Increase knowledge of research, statistics, and how they impact practice

Workshop Agenda

** Maryland CEU Institute/Optimal Life Solutions, LLC is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits (Category 1 CEUs) for licensed social workers in Maryland. In addition, most of our workshop are approved or pending approval through the DC Board of Social Work. These credits are typically also accepted by the Maryland Psychology Board, Maryland Board of Professional Counselors, Maryland Board for the Certification of Residential Child Care Program Professionals (CRCCPA), the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners, the Virginia Board of Social Work and other state boards. For those individuals licensed in other states or other licensing boards, we suggest that you contact your licensing board to verify that they accept Maryland Social Work Category I Credits or DC Social Work Credits. **